Lawless: A hymn to how violence used to be
Sat, Sep 8 2012 04:20
| shia laBeouf, Nick Cave, films, film review, bare knuckle fighting, violence, street fight, lawless, tom hardy, weapons, Guy Pearce
| Permalink
Lawless is perhaps one of the best films I have seen for a very long time, for many reasons. There’s no getting around the fact that what could have been a star-studded dud, exceeds expectations and offers us a glimpse into a past we rarely consider. Albeit from a much safer place.
Based on a book, based on a true story the film is set in prohibition Virginia with a tangible of air of the authentic. In a time and a landscape both intoxicating and unforgiving it offers us an arena in which we all feel we know, but proves that most of us probably don’t. Tom Hardy seems to dominate this blogs film section of late and he comes into his own here. Much like his role as Bane here he also dominates the screen too as a brooding and menacing figure. Hardy plays the eldest Bondurant brother, the patriarch of a family gang of bootleggers and mentors in violence as he does in business.
The film is written by Nick Cave and the script is punctuated with a subtle acceptance of the consequences of breaking the law and making enemies of it with graphic and well placed depictions too. If the Wild West and all the retellings of it are revised, romantic, myths about the birth of America. Then the revisiting of the turbulent and desperate Depression era is surely the mythologising of the nation’s puberty. Stark demonstrations of effectively used brass knuckles, knives and honest gun fights make the point in visceral blood-spattered, scream-stifling, toe-curling fashion. It’s still Hollywood but without the lacquer we come to expect so often.
Compared to the slick, urban masterpiece of Michael Mann’s Public Enemies, Lawless doesn’t tread quite such familiar ground. Often we see films place “gangsters” as box office busting, flawed, semi-heroic, pedestal pacing, vessels of immorality. They sit beyond the social pariahs of their modern counterparts. Thanks to hindsight the names and the deeds of Al Capone, Dillinger et al. are well known folk tales. The comparatively obscure Bondurants are presented as opportunistic, rustic and greedy exponents of base desires and base actions – struggling with their own limitations and taking those assumed expectations and running with them.
It strikes me as interesting that Britons and British media prefers to downplay the violence of their forefathers, most people seem unaware of Victorian society’s relationship with the coshes, knives and bare-knuckle boxing which dominated it. Recent films are doing their best to remind us now and again, but ironically it’s not as high on the list as Dickensian rogues and the school Master’s cane. Class and power are far bigger preoccupations it seems.
American history and particularly American film strikes me as starting with the violence and working from there. Lawless is no different. Scenes are riddled with the audience seeing weapons concealed to be drawn later. Hardy offers us a real life example of confusing your opponent with questions to distract them before blindsiding them. The relentless nature of fight scenes within the film leaves us in no doubt how “real” the film makers intended them to be. Whether they succeeded or not, is something I’ll leave to you to gauge.
Martial artists these days often forget that weapons only stopped being the norm for many people relatively recently. We often think in terms of hand to hand combat, facing a weapon is rightly of extreme concern because we ourselves rarely if ever carry one. Society as a whole still has a lust and an urge for the days when that wasn’t the case, especially if the protagonists are that much more everyday. It’s important to reconcile the realistic with the reality, what’s likely with what’s entertaining and engaging. Every so often a film like Lawless comes along and gives everyone a meditation on reconciling those contradictions. Asking questions of us all, this is a film worthy of high praise and closer inspection.
The Expendables: Movie Review
Sat, Aug 21 2010 03:40
| action, martial arts, movie review, expendables, violence, martial arts Altrincham, weapons
| Permalink
When I saw the promo poster for this in the foyer of my local cinema months ago it brought a wry smile to my face. An ensemble cast like this one has to be one of note for anyone vaguely into martial arts, action movies or a good old silver screen dust up. From the demi-god that is Jet Li to the MMA exploits of Randy Couture the “serious” martial arts snob is catered for, as well as those who grew up with the Hollywood exploits of Stallone, his heir apparent Statham, the forgotten man of Dolph Lundgren or the WWE's former poster boy Steve Austin all brought together with cameos from Arnie and Willis to top it off. There is some serious money and pedigree on offer here when it comes to action movies and it really shows.
This film knows it isn't a serious piece of art and treating it as such is a waste of time. With Stallone leading, writing, producing and directing it to various degrees it really is his project and the fact that friends from all over his career pop up such as Rourke and Lundgren gives it a nice feel. The simplistic and rather nonsensical story is precluded by a lovely set piece involving Somali pirates, laser sights and questions about the moral fibre of both mercenaries and pirates alike. It links together a typically American sense of moral crusading and political patronising of the generic foreign stereotype. This roots the Expendables very firmly in the action flick's 80's heyday. The ghosts of Rocky and Rambo stalk this film and the spectrum of weapons from Statham's impressive knife-work to the sublimely ridiculous explosive rounds sending viscera and enemies flying across our screens are as enjoyable as they are cartoonish in their use.
What's really on offer here is a chance to see top class choreography, a blend of styles and approaches and a nod to all the clichés going. Biased as I may be the fight scene between Li and Lundgren is truly a nasty little gem of a sequence. From Li's fast paced “happy feet” style sending kicks, punches and acrobatics at the giant Lundgren is pretty cool and quite enough to make anyone envious and for his part Dolph sends in the sort of punches and vicious attacks that make it all the more exciting.
Since that 'golden' era of the 80's, films like the Bourne and Batman series' have raised the bar in close-quarter fight sequences and technically speaking the Expendables does its bit. Lots of stomps to the knees, summary executions (axe kick to the chin from Statham anyone?) and flowing mixes of hand to hand and gun play in the later set pieces give this film something different. The more surprising parts are perhaps the way in which for all their limited acting the “wrestlers” that are Couture and Austin take star turns when their time comes.
As silly as the endless spinning and body-slams are in reality; on screen they make compelling viewing and the stunt team must take a bow. While there perhaps isn't much here in to compare to “proper fighting” or ideas to bring to training you and a few mates will probably end up trying one of the moves some point soon. Compared to Statham's slightly odd John Wayne-like retribution against a domestic abuser who steals and beats his girlfriend the wrestlers are unfortunately shown up a bit. The nasty and fast paced brutality depicted on the basketball court is as superb as it is gratuitous. For those of you with some time to kill I recommend reading any interviews with Statham – his outlook, philosophy and training advice make him someone I've grown to respect hugely.
There are questions over the need for this film released in the wake of the Losers and A-Team respectively but this one swaggers in late and arrogantly and perhaps has much more to grab your attention. The cast is bigger (in every sense, some of those t-shirts were screaming trying to contain all that testosterone) the action more graphic, the storyline more redundant and the technical aspects excellent. While it may have a rickety old plane; a massive slice of Southern Rock in the soundtrack and lots of dodgy dialogue; machismo, and some cod naval gazing encasing the violence; boisterous energy and casual sexism, for those of you who want to see things blow up and people get messed up – you won't go far wrong here.
This film knows it isn't a serious piece of art and treating it as such is a waste of time. With Stallone leading, writing, producing and directing it to various degrees it really is his project and the fact that friends from all over his career pop up such as Rourke and Lundgren gives it a nice feel. The simplistic and rather nonsensical story is precluded by a lovely set piece involving Somali pirates, laser sights and questions about the moral fibre of both mercenaries and pirates alike. It links together a typically American sense of moral crusading and political patronising of the generic foreign stereotype. This roots the Expendables very firmly in the action flick's 80's heyday. The ghosts of Rocky and Rambo stalk this film and the spectrum of weapons from Statham's impressive knife-work to the sublimely ridiculous explosive rounds sending viscera and enemies flying across our screens are as enjoyable as they are cartoonish in their use.
What's really on offer here is a chance to see top class choreography, a blend of styles and approaches and a nod to all the clichés going. Biased as I may be the fight scene between Li and Lundgren is truly a nasty little gem of a sequence. From Li's fast paced “happy feet” style sending kicks, punches and acrobatics at the giant Lundgren is pretty cool and quite enough to make anyone envious and for his part Dolph sends in the sort of punches and vicious attacks that make it all the more exciting.
Since that 'golden' era of the 80's, films like the Bourne and Batman series' have raised the bar in close-quarter fight sequences and technically speaking the Expendables does its bit. Lots of stomps to the knees, summary executions (axe kick to the chin from Statham anyone?) and flowing mixes of hand to hand and gun play in the later set pieces give this film something different. The more surprising parts are perhaps the way in which for all their limited acting the “wrestlers” that are Couture and Austin take star turns when their time comes.
As silly as the endless spinning and body-slams are in reality; on screen they make compelling viewing and the stunt team must take a bow. While there perhaps isn't much here in to compare to “proper fighting” or ideas to bring to training you and a few mates will probably end up trying one of the moves some point soon. Compared to Statham's slightly odd John Wayne-like retribution against a domestic abuser who steals and beats his girlfriend the wrestlers are unfortunately shown up a bit. The nasty and fast paced brutality depicted on the basketball court is as superb as it is gratuitous. For those of you with some time to kill I recommend reading any interviews with Statham – his outlook, philosophy and training advice make him someone I've grown to respect hugely.
There are questions over the need for this film released in the wake of the Losers and A-Team respectively but this one swaggers in late and arrogantly and perhaps has much more to grab your attention. The cast is bigger (in every sense, some of those t-shirts were screaming trying to contain all that testosterone) the action more graphic, the storyline more redundant and the technical aspects excellent. While it may have a rickety old plane; a massive slice of Southern Rock in the soundtrack and lots of dodgy dialogue; machismo, and some cod naval gazing encasing the violence; boisterous energy and casual sexism, for those of you who want to see things blow up and people get messed up – you won't go far wrong here.
Bats and Blades
Thu, Apr 29 2010 02:25
| kung fu, martial arts, knife crime, violence, martial arts Altrincham, weapons, self defence
| Permalink
Since man first stood upright you can bet one of the first tools he fashioned was not designed to gather mastery over mother nature but instead over fellow man. Weapons of all shapes, sizes, materials go back as far humans do pretty much. Life and society has been violent long before our species could express many other feelings or ideas.
As with the man's innate violence, our desire to survive and flourish have combined and combusted at regular intervals throughout our lives and the lives of our forebears. The knowledge and fear of weapons is as instinctive as it real for all of us.
For many the fear of a stranger taking a knife, bottle, bat, stick, hammer etc. or worse a firearm and using it against is widely acknowledged and sometimes discussed publicly. However our home is full of far worse weapons that are more likely to be used against us – unfortunately. Domestic violence and resultant deaths from kitchen knives, blunt objects even dumb bells in a current case in the news have wreaked serious harm and death on people in every day scenarios from people they know well.
One only has to look at the amount of gun related deaths in the USA to see that not all of them are the results of criminal activity or intent but often passionate and tragic accidents that wreck lives and families alike.
Most people spend months and years just learning to overcome simple punches to safely evade the deadly aspect of a knife or blunt instrument at the end of a person's arm takes much much longer. In all honesty such a holy grail as effective and risk free defence rarely exists. Even in more martial societies of feudal warriors and professional soldiers in days gone by; taking on an armed assailant without a weapon was an extreme scenario and rare event I'd wager.
I've had a knife produced on two occasions and both times I didn't fight back, in one case losing an insured phone and £10 was worth the embarrassment and probing questions of “but you're a kung fu teacher?” It helped me become more informed about myself and what I can and should do.
I always say to my students “fingers and internal organs are hard to replace” and that is my advice in general on this topic. Unless there is a real chance or instant where your life might lost then simply don't fight back. Why encourage or invite the loss of life or serious injury for the sake of material goods? The most frightening encounter was being cornered by two men when drunk who wanted to mug me. The knife wasn't produced until I floored one with a single punch. It was clear I escalated the situation in their minds and the deterrent of a knife was necessary for them.
Unless you are a soldier in a battle field you have no practical need to invite or deal with someone trying to stab you. So the majority of your training and anxiety should not be consumed by this scenario. It is rather fun messing about with plastic knives in training and seeing just what is possible and in your reach. I would say however the drunken brawler is by and large the most common and most dangerous predator for most of us.
Some students even ask about the practicalities of carrying a weapon of some sort themselves. I reject this out of hand. Apart from a rape alarm for women you should not need to live your life with such an accessory in my book. It also brings to mind the adage of “bringing a knife to a gun fight” think of the escalation I mentioned earlier and what that would do to petty thieves if they knew we were all concealing knives as well. Gun crime would become epidemic overnight or worse.
If push comes to shove and someone does produce a weapon my basic advice is this.
As with the man's innate violence, our desire to survive and flourish have combined and combusted at regular intervals throughout our lives and the lives of our forebears. The knowledge and fear of weapons is as instinctive as it real for all of us.
For many the fear of a stranger taking a knife, bottle, bat, stick, hammer etc. or worse a firearm and using it against is widely acknowledged and sometimes discussed publicly. However our home is full of far worse weapons that are more likely to be used against us – unfortunately. Domestic violence and resultant deaths from kitchen knives, blunt objects even dumb bells in a current case in the news have wreaked serious harm and death on people in every day scenarios from people they know well.
One only has to look at the amount of gun related deaths in the USA to see that not all of them are the results of criminal activity or intent but often passionate and tragic accidents that wreck lives and families alike.
However whenever I ask students particularly newer ones, to offer forward a self defence scenario they'd like to learn a solution for. 90% of the time the response is “how do I deal with a knife?”. Knife crime has been falling nationally, and sadly rising within inner city London this year. But people are genuinely (and rightly) scared of being stabbed by a stranger in the street for the sake of money/possessions.
It's a fear and notion easily preyed on by some less scrupulous “martial arts” experts who charge people decent sums of money for a weekend of “knife defence” and other such guff. Quite frankly they give us all a bad name.
Most people spend months and years just learning to overcome simple punches to safely evade the deadly aspect of a knife or blunt instrument at the end of a person's arm takes much much longer. In all honesty such a holy grail as effective and risk free defence rarely exists. Even in more martial societies of feudal warriors and professional soldiers in days gone by; taking on an armed assailant without a weapon was an extreme scenario and rare event I'd wager.
I've had a knife produced on two occasions and both times I didn't fight back, in one case losing an insured phone and £10 was worth the embarrassment and probing questions of “but you're a kung fu teacher?” It helped me become more informed about myself and what I can and should do.
I always say to my students “fingers and internal organs are hard to replace” and that is my advice in general on this topic. Unless there is a real chance or instant where your life might lost then simply don't fight back. Why encourage or invite the loss of life or serious injury for the sake of material goods? The most frightening encounter was being cornered by two men when drunk who wanted to mug me. The knife wasn't produced until I floored one with a single punch. It was clear I escalated the situation in their minds and the deterrent of a knife was necessary for them.
This is the reality more often than not. People using weapons often don't really know how and when to use them and therefore are unpredictable. In panic or uncertainty they can stab and slash wildly which means attempting a defence is nigh on impossible and very risky.
Some of you may be disappointed or upset by this view. However I ask you to consider how often you have or will face such a scenario? Really, think about it. When that time comes god forbid, it is much better to lose money than honour or much worse.Unless you are a soldier in a battle field you have no practical need to invite or deal with someone trying to stab you. So the majority of your training and anxiety should not be consumed by this scenario. It is rather fun messing about with plastic knives in training and seeing just what is possible and in your reach. I would say however the drunken brawler is by and large the most common and most dangerous predator for most of us.
Some students even ask about the practicalities of carrying a weapon of some sort themselves. I reject this out of hand. Apart from a rape alarm for women you should not need to live your life with such an accessory in my book. It also brings to mind the adage of “bringing a knife to a gun fight” think of the escalation I mentioned earlier and what that would do to petty thieves if they knew we were all concealing knives as well. Gun crime would become epidemic overnight or worse.
If push comes to shove and someone does produce a weapon my basic advice is this.
- Maintain space, use your environment to make a barrier between you and the weapon – a coat, a bar stool, fire extinguishers all have their uses.
- Make yourself SEEN and HEARD. Attract as much attention as possible so everyone is looking not at you but the idiot brandishing a broken bottle or blade towards you. These cowards will most likely flee if they feel easily identified and vulnerable.
- NEVER try to grab the weapon or put your hands near it. Pin the arm at the elbow if you absolutely have to and try to disable the attacker immediately by striking their face/groin or knees etc.
- Always throw the weapon away from you and the attacker. If you didn't bring it you're probably not ready to use it and it will hamper or distract you. Our hands do far more damage than we give them credit for.
- GET OUT and GET CLEAR as soon as possible. Quite simply run! If you're not there you can't get hurt.